Musical instrument



Aug. 4, 1942. E. LISKE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 29, 1941 IN ENTOR5771C [s/(e Attorney Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITED STAT GFFFEQE MUSICALINSTRUMENT Emil Liske, Briglitview, Alberta, Canada Application December29, 1941, Serial No. 424,829

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a musical instrument. Itsprimary object is to provide a seven string instrument having the firstsix arranged in pairs.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved bridgefor the instrument wherein a wider bearing surface is provided for thefiner strings than the heavy string. To the end that a richer tone andharmonized effect between the strings is obtained.

Still another object is the provision of an improved bridge wherein thestrings are properly disposed and prevented from inadvertent lateralmovement at all times.

With these and other objects in View that may appear while thedescription proceeds the invention consists in the novel constructionand arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically set forth,claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing forming part of thisapplication and in which:

Fig. 1 is a general view of my improved instrument showing the stringarrangement.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the improved bridge.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the improved bridge shown in a slightlymodified form.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, greatly enlarged, of thebridge of Fig. 4.

Referring more in detail to the drawing in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views itwill be seen the invention comprises an instrument l0, having a hollowbody formed similarly to a guitar The neck II, is of predeterminedlength and supports a finger board I2, having a plurality of fretsmounted thereon, each at a predetermined distance from the next. Saiddistance being progressively shorter nearer the top or away from thehead. The head 13, is of the machine type having worm gear driven pegsM, on which the strings are wound for tuning.

The strings are arranged in three pairs as follows:

The first and second strings l5 and It, are both tuned to the same pitchA. The third and fourth strings I1 and [8, are tuned to D, the fourthstring being one octave lower than the third, The fifth and sixthstrings i9 and 20, tuned to G, the sixth string being an octave lowerthan the fifth. The seventh string 2|, is tuned to C in the lower range.

The strings are securely anchored in the member 22, and pass over thebridge 23. This bridge is of special design and consists of a moderatelywide member having equi-distantly spaced notches 24, which extendpartially across the width of the bridge. This provides shorter bearingsurface on the bridge for the coarser strings and longer bearing surfacefor the finer strings which have their bearing across the full width ofthe bridge.

This has the effect of giving a slightly longer tuning or vibratingdistance from the nut 25, to the bridge for the coarse strings than forthe finer strings and results in a richer tone and better harmonizedefiect.

In the modification shown in Figures 4 and 5, the bridge 2%, is providedwith notches 24, together with string receiving channels 21, having agroove 28, cut parallel therewith along the bottom of the groove. Thesaid channels direct the strings into the grooves to the end that thestrings may be readily positioned in the grooves whereby inadvertentslipping thereof is reduced to a minimum.

It is believed that the construction and advantages of the structureshown may be apparent from the foregoing paragraphs taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing without further detailed description.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed it isunderstood that minor changes in the construction and arrangement ofco-operating parts may be resorted to within the scope of what isclaimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A bridge for stringed musical instruments comprising an elongatedblock having a flat top bearing surface for supporting the strings, saidblock having a series of spaced notches in its top surface along one ofits longitudinal edges extending transversely of the block for a portionof its width whereby some of the strings extending across the bridgewill have a shorter bearing surface than the others.

2. A bridge for stringed musical instruments comprising an elongatedblock having a flat top bearing surface for supporting the strings, saidblock having a series of spaced notches in its top surface along one ofits longitudinal edges extending transversely of the block for a portionof its width, the top surface of said block having transverse channelsintermediate the notches to receive some of the strings and channels inthe top surface in alinement with said notches to receive those stringsextending over the notched portions.

EMIL LISKE.

